Your Appointment and My Appointment With Pope Francis on September 7th , 2013 - Let's Be There !

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On September 1, 2013 NEWS.va reported that Pope Francis has called for a day of prayer and fasting for peace in Syria . That day is upon us. Pope Francis has asked us to join him in prayer and fasting on September 7, 2013 :

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has called for a day of fasting and prayer for peace in Syria, in the entire Mideast region, and throughout the whole world to be held this coming Saturday, September 7th, 2013. Speaking ahead of the traditional Angelus prayer with pilgrims gathered in St Peter’s Square this Sunday, Pope Francis said, “On [Saturday] the 7th of September, here [in St Peter’s Square], from 7 PM until midnight, we will gather together in prayer, in a spirit of penitence, to ask from God this great gift [of peace] for the beloved Syrian nation and for all the situations of conflict and violence in the world.” The Holy Father also invited non-Catholic Christians and non-Christian believers to participate in ways they feel are appropriate. Listen to our report:

“Never again war!” said Pope Francis. “We want a peaceful world,” he said, “we want to be men and women of peace.”

Pope Francis also issued a forceful condemnation of the use of chemical weapons. “There is the judgment of God, and also the judgment of history, upon our actions,” he said, “ [judgments] from which there is no escaping.” He called on all parties to conflicts to pursue negotiations, and urged the international community to take concrete steps to end conflicts, especially the war in Syria. “Humanity needs to see gestures of peace,” said Pope Francis, “and to hear words of hope and of peace.”

We have heard precious little of this repeated in the media, yet it is so crucial. Perhaps that is why the USCCB reiterated Pope Francis’ request in their appeal on September 3, 2013 to the faithful to “Join the Pope’s day of prayer for Syria” . . . (“beloved Syria” if we wish to use Pope Francis’ own words) :

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Bishop Richard Pates of Des Moines, Iowa, chairman of the Committee on International Justice and Peace, said in a statement issued today, "As our nation's leaders contemplate military action, it is particularly appropriate and urgent that we in the United States embrace the Holy Father's call to pray and fast on Sept. 7 for a peaceful end to the conflict in Syria and to violent conflicts everywhere. Pope Francis has exhorted 'the international community to make every effort to promote clear proposals for peace, ... a peace based on dialogue and negotiation, for the good of the entire Syrian people.'"

And Syria is truly “beloved” in the pure , powerful and ever-loving Immaculate Heart of Mary as well . Syria has an intimate and personal relationship with Our Blessed Mother - in the contemporary sense, with Our Lady of Soufanieh. Our Lady of Soufanieh's origin and center is in Damascus . So how should we imagine Our Blessed Mother feels about her dear children in Syria . . . being killed and maimed on all sides ?

We have an appointment – you and I , with Pope Francis on September 7th 2013 , for our brothers and sisters in Syria , and for peace the world over . In my limited opinion, this is one appointment we can’t afford to miss. Believing that a UN resolution for a retaliatory military strike on Syria's military is somehow going to end all the violence – without our active participation in prayer, and fasting , is believing in fantasy .

Let’s keep our appointment with Pope Francis . Don’t even worry so much about what we shall be able to bring to the table on Sept 7th regarding fasting . . . We can simply confide that particular intention to Our Blessed Mother and She will help us think of something . No one would like us to keep this appointment more than She would , except . . . . . . God .

_________________ " . . . you should know that there is present with you the angel whom God has appointed for each man . . . This angel, who is sleepless and cannot be deceived, is always present with you; he sees all things and is not hindered by darkness. You should know, too, that with him is God " . . . - St. Anthony the Great